Nutrition and healthy eating

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• June 6, 2011 8:09 a.m.

  water is essential need for every human being. The water should be clean and filter before drinking.

  -

• October 8, 2010 2:43 a.m.

  Nice blog useful information

  -

• September 16, 2010 12:35 p.m.

  For 6 years I have forgot me to buy water bottled for the house and mostly important for the children with AquaSmarter-Water I purify the tap water with the golden egg after 24 hours the water is total pure and drinkable mind and I am sure to eliminate the bacteria and virus of the water. This System works with the ionization process, you can use for your House or Residential too.

  - Janelle

• August 21, 2010 9:12 p.m.

  I'd go TAP WATER all the way! I'm coordinating the Take Back the Tap campaign at the University of Oregon. I'd also like to add more to your research on safety. You are correct that bottled water companies don't have to report to the customers, but they don't even have to report to the FDA and they can still sell their product even if it doesn't meet the designated standards. Also the environmental impact from all the oil that goes into producing, transporting, and disposing of bottled water is not healthy for our planet or for our personal health. You can find out more at my blog uotbtt.wordpress.com

  - Terra

• August 8, 2010 5:28 p.m.

  Individual use of plastic water bottles has become a multi-billion dollar industry. but there is a serious cost to our planet and animals. Tap water isnt good enough anymore with all the Chlorine. Chlorine is the greatest crippler and killer of modern times. While it prevented epidemics of one disease, it is creating another.

  - Kira

• July 12, 2010 8:41 a.m.

  Our tap water comes from a well and not only is it pure and clean, it tastes better than bottled water too. A lot of people reuse their plastic bottles for their water – don’t do that, the plastic contains chemicals that can leak in the water, especially if it used over and over again. I suggest using a stainless steel bottle to keep your water in – it stays fresh and remains clean.

  - Yip - The Green Bottle Man

• May 26, 2010 8:17 p.m.

  first:the poisons in the plastics are only relesed when heated and bottled water is cold second:do you even know how long it takes water to go all the way through the tap just look at it for a moment third:WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TO FIGHT ABOUT THIS STUFF LAGIT

  - chandler

• May 18, 2010 11:34 a.m.

  i think if the water got poluted then we would all have to convert to bottled water if there was no bottled water the earth would be in a no water depression so we really really do need water. OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT(bottled water).

  - chandler

• March 2, 2010 7:55 a.m.

  WATER IS NO JOKE. TO THIS DAY IN FAIRFIELD,IOWA TAP WATER HAS A CHLORINE TASTE. BUT WHEN I GOT HERE IN 1976 TAP WATER WAS LIKE DRINKING BLEACH STRAIGHT OUT OF A BOTTLE. GOVT. REGULATION OF WATER? IS THE GOVT. TRYING TO MAKE US SICK AND EVEN KILL US? EPA, WAKE UP. WATER IS...NO JOKE!

  - JEFF

• February 22, 2010 8:21 p.m.

  I prefer the best of both worlds. I refill my bottles from the tap.

  - Dave

• January 1, 2010 3:54 p.m.

  Empty bottles are littering my neighbourhood, but the tap water will kill you to be fair!

  - Bobby

• December 15, 2009 2:10 p.m.

  Don't forget that tap water has lead, chlorine, and other toxic chemicals and gasses that fill up the bathroom when you shut the door and don't turn on the fan. Let's not talk about that. And the FDA? Looking out for us? What a joke. It's all about creating disease and making us fat and sick. It makes the dollar grow. Get smart people. But with plastic, bottled water, you want plastic that doesn't contain the chemical BPA.

  - Heather

• September 22, 2009 9:19 a.m.

  I don't think it is an either or option. I like a 3rd alternative - filtered tap water. Much more environmentally and economically friendly than bottled water, but addresses also addresses the taste, safely benefits of bottled water. I use a Brita pitcher and filter that you refill from your tap that works great.

  - Tim

• September 17, 2009 11:49 p.m.

  I absolutaly agree with Linda. Not everybody is a good citizen and takes those containers recycling.

  - Maria

• September 16, 2009 10:23 p.m.

  I really believe that it depends on where you are at in terms of both taste and safety. I would suggest always bring bottled water just in case.

  - Wade

• September 16, 2009 5:01 p.m.

  I have lived at "the lake" with well water for 25 years and the water is great, no bottled water for me.

  - Don

• September 16, 2009 4:00 p.m.

  Why are the contaminant standards different between the FDA and the EPA? How different? When there isn't transparency by the water bottlers, it makes me worry.

  - Paul

• September 16, 2009 3:58 p.m.

  Another alternative for bottled water if you have iron, etc.: A Reverse Osmosis water system. Fill your water container for drinking at the lake, camping and such. You get hyper-filtered water that you can't tell from purchased water, saving money without transportation and tossed plastic bottles.

  - Bob

• September 16, 2009 3:22 p.m.

  I agree with Bonnie #1 and the others who voted for tap water. I live in NJ and I think our water is delicious, especially cold. There were a couple places in the US that I felt the water had a rather heavy "metal" taste, iron maybe? I don't know much about well water. The environmental impact of bottles is huge and we all know a lot of people are thoughtless when it comes to Mother Earth. Sistabuttafly, I'm with you-Hug your faucet tonight!

  - Bonnie #2

• September 16, 2009 7:40 a.m.

  You have another option that's inexpensive and better for the environment. Fill reusable containers with tap water at home and take them with you to the lake.

  - sistabuttafly

• September 16, 2009 12:45 a.m.

  I've pledged not to use bottled water due to its environmental impact & false advertising. Should check poisonous water from coal mining slag in W. Virginia. Hundreds of violations: lead, mercury in their water w/ rashes, tooth erosion, prob. brain damage. Finally water is trucked in, but showers inflame, etc. skin. How can we stop these violations? Bush adm. was pro business, not pro-people, relaxed EPA standards. Shall I mail you the lengthy NYTimes article from last week?

  - Ellen

• September 15, 2009 6:16 p.m.

  Personally I have used distilled water for over twenty years. People who are not accustomed to distilled find it tastless however with in a short period it is fine. If you look at an ice cube of distilled you will see how clear and very hard it is. Often when a cube freezes it creates an ice stick about 3/4 to 1 inch long which tells me it is quite pure. I have had my own distiller for the whole time. When we travel we find the price is reasonable to buy it at your Supermarket.

  - Larry

• September 15, 2009 4:30 p.m.

  I have compromised immune system MS-- only ever use bottled DISTILLED water, No problems--am surprised it is not used by others.

  - Martin G

• September 15, 2009 10:10 a.m.

  I disagree. There is definately a taste difference in my water with a filter/softener compared to the bottled water.

  - No name given

• September 13, 2009 9:47 p.m.

  I agree with the previous commenters - tap water is the obvious choice! In an industrialized nation like the US it's just as safe to drink as bottled (especially the bottled brands that use municipal water as their "springs") and the environmental cost of the plastic bottles is simple not worth it. Besides, what chemicals are leaching from the plastic into your water? If you object to the taste of the tap water at your cabin, invest in a water filter.

  - Bonnie